“Now, please,” Rames said, the softness in his voice he had mustered for the baby vanished. “I have a luncheon soon.”
Turqa nodded politely as Rames cradled Irea with one arm and held his free arm out for Turqa's examen. With a hand cupped around the crook of Rames' arm, Turqa closed his eyes and breathed steadily. After a few moments, he removed his hand from Rames and placed it on Irea's tiny belly, having to remove a layer of blanket to get access.
The silent anticipation in the room made Veria uncomfortable, and she shuddered.
Finally, Turqa spoke: “My examen has provided evidence that Lord Rames of Chadron is Lady Irea's father by blood.”
Tanisca gasped happily and Veria sighed in relief just to have an answer, though she secretly wasn't sure that was the answer she wanted to hear. Her stomach twinged with nervousness at the thought of having to deal with Rames all the time now, and the possibility that someday he may want to marry her to legitimize his daughter.
But, she reminded herself, that was best for Irea. And she studied Rames' face as he heard the result of the examen—it had gone totally soft in adoration of the baby in his arms, and his eyes were beginning to moisten. He could be a wonderful father, Veria thought. Better than her own since, as far as she knew, Rames didn't have the ability to practice elemental skills on her.
The verifier nodded when Rames sought his appraisal. “I do not detect any deception, my Lord.”
“Thank you,” Rames said, a brief smile parting his thin lips before he recomposed his face into a stern and serious expression. “Gentlemen, I'd like a moment alone with the Laurelgates, please.”
Turqa and the verifier nodded politely, the latter tipping his brown hat as they exited.
“There are tarts and tea in the foyer!” Tanisca called after them.
As soon as the men were out of assumed earshot, Rames handed the baby to Tanisca and turned to Veria.
“What do you want?” he asked curtly.
“Want?” Veria spat, placing a hand to her chest. “I don't want anything. I didn't choose this to get something out of you.”
“Didn't you, though?” he snapped. “Is that not how it goes in this family?”
“If you are going to insult my mother, in her presence, no less, then you can leave,” Veria said firmly, gesturing to the door of the nursery.
Rames sighed and stared her down.
“It took two of us to get here, Rames,” Veria said. “We both made the choice.”
“You're right,” he agreed. “And I'm not sorry that she exists. She's quite the little bundle of joy. I would like to visit, if that's acceptable?” His face softened again, but not as completely as it had when he had held the baby.
Veria nodded. “I think that's acceptable.”
“I will send money for her care,” Rames continued. “On one condition.”
“What condition is that?” Veria asked, cocking her head at him.
“You will tell no one in this kingdom that I'm her father,” he ordered.
“What are we supposed to say, then?” Tanisca asked in disbelief.
“I don't care,” Rames answered. “That is your problem, and your choice. But if you tell anyone that she belongs to me, or any details of our affair, I will stop providing funds and I will make sure that you are removed from the Regalship.”
“Ha!” Tanisca laughed. “How do you think you'll achieve that. Chadron and North Chadron are wealthy Estates, but the Laurelgates are one of the oldest Regal families in the Kingdom. No one would remove Veria, a member by blood, from her birthright of Longberme Estate.”
Rames turned to face Tanisca. “I think you underestimate how much the Regalship despises a scandal,” he sneered. “Or maybe you don't...I think you can imagine how badly a second scandal in less than five years would look upon the Laurelgates. And there are plenty of people the King is looking to promote into Regal standing.”
“Heard and understood, Lord Rames,” Veria said dismissively, not really as concerned with Rames' demands and threats as her mother was. “Now, you best hurry off to your luncheon,” she added laconically.
He turned back to face her. “I will visit each month. Lady Ambra has various monthly luncheon events she attends, so I will visit while she is out to one of them. And I will send notice a day prior.”
Veria nodded.
“I will pay the Water Mager's fees, as well,” Rames added.
“Thank you,” Veria said, though she was sure it wasn't as polite as it could have been. She was ready for the whole exchange to be over.
Rames nodded and took one last fond look at Irea before saying goodbye to the two women and making his exit.
Veria sighed in relief and flopped down on the plush, coral settee by the bassinet.
“I'm starving,” she groaned. “And I'm going to need more than those greens I saw Cook preparing.”
“Well, that's too bad, dear,” Tanisca said matter-of-factly. “If you are going to make that man your husband, you will have to get your figure back.”
“Ugh,” Veria groaned in disgust. “Don't say 'husband'.”
“Although, honestly Veria,” Tanisca carried on, ignoring Veria's utterance, “did you have to choose the most ill-mannered Lord in the Regalship?”
The two broke into hysterical giggles.
“Ow, ow! Laughing hurts!” Veria exclaimed as she tried to stop giggling.
“Sorry,” Tanisca apologized, stifling her own laughter with a series of diminutive snorts. “Now, really, let's compose ourselves and go eat lunch.”
-II-
Another three weeks passed, and Veria had to admit, her mother's regimen of walking and light meals had the pleasant side effect of thoroughly invigorating her. She resumed her secret training of her hard elemental skills, currently focusing on small rocks and gravel bits she could discreetly pull and twirl around the garden under the cover of the bushes while they took their daily walks, which Veria had insisted increase from one to three in frequency. It worked well, as Irea generally fell asleep in Tanisca's arms within a few minutes of walking, and would nap for another hour or so after the walk once transferred to the second bassinet that Tanisca had placed in the library. Veria used the time to continue practicing, often taking larger rocks or heavier metal objects like tools and picture frames up to her room and quietly moving them around the room with her powers until she was completely drained of energy.
After the day's second walk and practice session, Veria bounded down the stairs, ready for lunch, oddly looking forward to the plain greens with light dressing. Because they had added more walks, Tanisca had told the cook to also add a side of honeyed braiberries or baked fish to each lunch, and Veria wondered which it would be today. The braiberries were very juicy and sweet this time of year, but Veria had always been quite partial to fish, especially the gilltrout that came out of the nearby Silverstone Lake. Her mouth watered at the thought of either option.
Tanisca came out of the library with an odd expression on her face as Veria reached the bottom of the staircase, as if she had something to tell Veria but didn't actually want to speak..
“What is the matter?” Veria asked. “You look like you've eaten spoiled cheese.”
“I've received a letter,” she replied.
“You receive a lot of letters, mother,” Veria quipped.
“From Willis Villicrey.”
Veria's stomach churned, both from hunger and nerves.
“Well, is everything alright?” she asked anxiously.
“Yes, they are fine,” Tanisca said, holding the letter in between her slender fingers. “They've just come back from three months in Govaland.”
“I am glad they are well,” Veria said, eager to end the conversation about the Villicreys. She turned and made her way to the dining room.
“They want to come for dinner,” Tanisca added as Veria was almost out of the foyer.
She stopped in her tracks and swallowed hard. How could she face Andon? It was hard enoug
h just thinking about him. And anger bubbled inside her every time she spent longer than a minute thinking about the circumstances of his departure. She had resigned herself to the belief that they'd never have to be around each other again, but she remembered now that Willis did mention visiting in his final words to her.
“Why?” Veria asked, turning to face Tanisca.
“Willis says they have news,” she answered. “And he wanted to check in on your progress with Daloes.”
“Well, he can't do that!” Veria exclaimed, and Tanisca shushed her. “I can't say anything,” Veria said, dropping her volume to just above a whisper, and striding back to Tanisca so she could hear, “or he'll know all about the secret illegal training I've been doing.”
“We will just have to be very careful what we talk about then,” Tanisca said.
“I don't want to see them,” Veria said, forcefully.
“Well, that's too bad, Tanisca said. “I already told them they could come tomorrow.”
“What?!” Veria snapped. “Without saying anything to me first?”
“Willis is a very important ally to have,” Tanisca explained. “He has the ear of the King and the respect of the kingdom. If things gets bad with this Rames business, we need him on our side.”
“Everything is a plot to you, isn't it?” Veria accused.
“No, everything is a plan,” Tanisca corrected with a grin. “And someday you will thank me for all my careful planning.”
Veria was at least thankful that Tanisca had decided to host a dinner for the single fact that she would get to partake in one of the cook's delectable feasts that were meant to impress. Her figure was starting to go back to normal, albeit slowly, but she was sure one night of a grand array of hearty food wouldn't set her efforts back. Nor did she particularly care if it did, if she were being honest...
But she was sure she'd have a hard time eating any of the food presented if her stomach stayed a bundle of anxious nerves through the remainder of the evening. The Villicreys would be arriving any moment and she'd been sick to her stomach all day, knowing the discussion that would have to be had with Andon once he saw a baby in the house.
Maybe she should have sent a letter before he arrived explaining things so he wasn't caught off guard on his arrival? she wondered. But, her mother didn't leave her much time to do that by giving her only one day of notice.
She sighed and surveyed her hair in the gold-framed oval mirror in the foyer. She smoothed a few stray hairs back into line with her braids that swept down to the nape of her neck into a bun. Tanisca, who hadn't personally done Veria's hair since around her sixteenth birthday years prior, had taken to practicing intricate styles on Veria again, so that she'd be “ready for Irea's hair, when it was long enough”. Veria certainly got the feeling that Irea would be Tanisca's living doll for some time to come. As it was, the not-quite-month-old baby had a pink bow in the tiny tuft of dark hair atop her head today, and wore a pink silk nightgown, with more pink bows, that Tanisca had specially made for her by the Laurelgate's regular seamstress.
Veria giggled when she looked at her, covered in little bows, but Tanisca fawned and cooed and awed and mentioned at least a dozen times a day that Irea was the most beautiful baby she'd ever seen.
The sound of hoof beats of several horses signaled the arrival of the Villicreys and Veria's heart plummeted into her nervous stomach. Her face went hot, and she checked to see if her cheeks were flushed, but they weren't, or at least it wasn't noticeable behind the touch of rouge she'd applied.
Tanisca appeared from the library where she had been reading while Irea took her third nap of the day and shut the door quietly. She looked impeccable—a slim cut, velvety forest green dress providing the perfect contrast to her flame-red hair and lips. Veria looked down at her own indigo caftan that she had made a bit more flattering by creating a waist for it with a gold cord sash. But it still looked like a sack of root vegetables compared to her mother's flattering attire.
Oh, well, she thought, there wasn't a thing she could do about any of it now. The brass knocker had sounded with its mixture of metallic and wooden thuds, and there was no going back now.
Tanisca opened the door and immediately pulled Willis in for a hug and kiss on the cheek as they exchanged warm greetings.
Andon slid into the foyer awkwardly and tipped his hat to Veria.
“Lady Veria,” he said, the rich warmth of his accent assaulting Veria's ears, stirring up all the memories she had of him.
His hair was less scraggly than she remembered. Still long, it was combed away from his face, very similar to Lord Rames, she noted. She was fairly certain she preferred the subtle unkempt waves in his face.
“Andon,” Veria responded with a nod and offered to take his hat. As she reached for it, he grabbed her hand and turned it over, drawing it to his lips and pecking the thin skin of its delicate back. A tingle swept across her entire body but she tried to keep her breath steady and her stance strong.
“Madame Tanisca,” he said, turning his attention to her and kissing her hand as well, “thank you for the invitation. It's nice to be back at Longberme.” His eyes swept the foyer with a contented grin, as if he felt at home.
“Let's make our way to the gardens, shall we?” Tanisca suggested. “Dinner will be an hour or so still, but I've arranged for some braiberry wine and small bites to be brought out to the fountains. We have many of our flowers in bloom currently, which I think you would have missed in Tal'lea and Govaland.”
They all made their way toward the back door that led out to the rear gardens, Willis commenting as they walked: “Yes, we didn't see much green, or much color at all, besides the color of rocks and barrens, while in Govaland. No golden sands and blue oceans of Tal'lea on this trip, however. Though, if you like the colors of blooming gardens, you ought to visit the silk markets of Indil'la, the capital city. They are gardens of color in their own right.”
“That sounds fabulous,” Tanisca said. “I have always said, in another life, I would have been a seamstress.” Veria and Andon exchanged smirks and eye rolls behind their respective parents' backs. “Fabrics and colors fascinate me. On your next trip there, you will have to bring me some back, Willis.”
“Of course, Madame Tanisca,” Willis obliged. “It would be my pleasure. Red, I assume,” he added with a knavish grin that was out of his character. “A deep wine tint? Or do you prefer the brighter fire tones of the dracon-tongue flower?”
Tanisca giggled demurely as Willis held the door to the gardens open for the rest of them.
“Oh dear, I suppose I am quite predictable to you, aren't I, Master Villicrey?” she laughed.
Andon held Veria back from the door with a gentle touch on her arm, and she turned to him. “Are your mother and my father...flirting?” he whispered with a goofy smirk parting his full, tan lips. He leaned his head toward hers to compensate for the low volume he used, and her heart fluttered as she felt his breath.
“My mother's idea of being polite to a man is flirting,” Veria whispered with a giggle. “Though, your father seems quite reciprocal today.”
“Well, he is in a fantastic mood today, and it's highly unsettling,” he chuckled.
Veria was enjoying the friendly banter and Andon's attention on her more than she expected she would. Their gazes lingered on each other in silence for a few moments, which made Veria's face go hot, and she knew this time her cheeks had to be noticeably blushing.
“Are you two coming outside?” Willis yelled from the back door he was still holding open.
The yell must have been just enough to wake the baby, as before they had a chance to respond, Irea's wails sounded throughout the house from the library. Andon's face changed in an instant, furrowing and hardening into stern, hard lines while he cocked his head at her in question.
Without a word, he turned from her and strode toward the source of the noise.
Veria sighed heavily, knowing this moment would eventually come, but certain
ly not wanting to deal with it in the slightest.
She waved at Willis. “Give us a few moments,” she called to him. “We will be out shortly.” Then she also headed to the library, where the crying was tapering off into fusses and murmurs. Someone had picked Irea up, her preference by far, and Veria wondered it if it was the nursemaid or Andon...
When she reached the den, she saw the answer to her question. Andon stood by the bassinet, holding Irea in his arms, his gaze transfixed on her, breathing slow heaving breaths that moved his entire body.
“Were you going to say anything to me?” he asked, coolly, without looking away from the baby in his arms.
Veria felt like she could not swallow. “Not if I did not have to,” she answered nervously through the lump in her throat.
“Why not?” he asked.
“I think you can figure the reason out on your own, Andon,” she muttered.
“Yes, but I need to hear you say it.”
Veria took a sharp inhale and sighed. “She is not yours, Andon.”
He winced and his eyes closed as if he were in physical pain. He turned and put Irea back in the bassinet gently.
“She. A girl....” he cooed. “What is her name?”
“Irea,” Veria whispered.
“Irea,” he repeated softly.
Veria watched in shock as he fell to his knees in front of the bassinet.
“Andon!” she exclaimed and ran to his side, his body slumped forward, his face full of sadness and head dropped in defeat.
“I should have stayed,” he said, shaking his head as if he were reprimanding himself. “I should have been here. I—she should be mine.”
“Andon, staying would not have changed who the father is,” Veria attempted to comfort him.
“We could have left, we could have been married—I would have raised her as my own,” he said. Veria's chest stung at the mention of things she had desired so deeply.
“Please do not say those things,” she begged.
The Second Talisman: (Book II of the Elementals Series) Page 2